Sornen Ukoh is HENCH. Born and raised in Jos,Plateau State, this budding hip hop, spoken word and freestyle artist chose a career in music and liberal arts after graduating from Lead City University Ibadan where he studied Politics and International Relations. Inspired by top notch Nigerian acts such as MI Abaga, Mode 9, Jesse Jags and Ice Prince Zamani, Hench carves an artistic path for himself fusing golden age rap styles with imaginative poetry rendered over moving rythimic instrumentals. Hench is an avid reader, movie buff and art enthusiast who describes his artistic influences as “too many to list and forever evolving”. Currently focused on a mixtape project titled “Escape From Jay Town”, Hench lives in Lagos city.

Hench received recognition following his feature on MI Abaga’s Illegal Music 2’s hit track Ridiculous. Respected for his incisive lyrics and smooth flow, this is the dude who gave us the epic line: “if you ain’t tryna be rich then you ain’t broke enough“. The mixtape album’s title has gotten us curious and utterly excited!

Sornen Ukoh is HENCH. Born and raised in Jos,Plateau State, this budding hip hop, spoken word and freestyle artist chose a career in music and liberal arts after graduating from Lead City University Ibadan where he studied Politics and International Relations. Inspired by top notch Nigerian acts such as MI Abaga, Mode 9, Jesse Jags and Ice Prince Zamani, Hench carves an artistic path for himself fusing golden age rap styles with imaginative poetry rendered over moving rythimic instrumentals. Hench is an avid reader, movie buff and art enthusiast who describes his artistic influences as “too many to list and forever evolving”. Currently focused on a mixtape project titled “Escape From Jay Town”, Hench lives in Lagos city.

Nigerian hip hop… Scratch that! African hip hop, get ready! HENCH is coming for ya! On the 8th of June, this young hip hop artist, acclaimed as one of J-town’s finest, will be releasing 2 NEW SINGLES: Coming Soon and U No Sabi Rap, from his upcoming mixtape titled Escape From J-town.

Hench received recognition following his feature on MI Abaga’s Illegal Music 2 hit track Ridiculous. Respected for his incisive lyrics, smooth flow and intuitive freestyle skills, this is the dude who gave us the epic line: “if you ain’t tryna be rich then you ain’t broke enough“. The track titles have gotten us curious and utterly excited – and how about that mixtape album title, huh? We can’t wait to hear what this emcee has cooked up.

Jos City, famously known as J-town, is home to some of the best hip hop talents in the country (and indeed the continent). One of its most promising talents, a young emcee who goes by the name Pizzo da Lyrical Praxis recently released a mixtape titled: L.P’s P.O.V tha Mixtape.

We’ve got the lyrically luminous street-hop for you right here, so start downloading and get your ‘Afro’ hip hop on. Check out the tracklist below, with brief comments. Let us know what you think of the tracks by leaving a comment below.

CRITIQUE MUSIC PRESENTS: L.P’S P.O.V tha MIXTAPE

1. True Confessionfeat Tommy ShieldsPizzo raps to a hook sung by Tommy Shields, giving his “true confession of love” to an unnamed lady who wants to call it quits on their relationship.Ace lines: I always thought we was a perfect match/After fish in the ocean you was worth the catch

2. Questionsfeat RemarkablePizzo gives lyrical insight into the curious workings of his mind, asking question after question of a Nigeria that could have been.Ace lines: What if, death was hard and life was easy, would poverty still be/ Or just a thing of the mind state?/ Or maybe that’s the reason why we having these crime rates/ coz ghetto people tired of waiting for His divine grace

3. Duwawufeat Illmasta Chif“Duwawu” in Hausa language translates to “booty” (à la Beyonce’s “bootylicious) in English. This club banger has one of Pizzo’s best verses in the mixtape. If you don’t get the lines rapped in Hausa just shake your “duwawu” and enjoy the damn song!Ace lines: show kada duwa duwawu/ zuba ya taru, wuta ya karu, ka za ta paru/ got you looking dangerous, but yan mata wanna hang with us

4. Aikin kowafeat BaysticksA patriot’s song which has the two rappers calling for peace, love and unity. A better Nigeria after all is “aikin kowa” – everybody’s duty.Ace lines: It’s all about responsibility, get strong, you feeling me?/ slept on, the realest D!, dead wrong stupidity

5. Murna Murnafeat LucaseA feel good track bound to get you off your feet and keep you jumping with chants of “murna murna”!Ace lines: call me asthma coz I got a really bad attack/ I dey select oh, no be every kind girl I dey knack

6. Good LoveHey, we all need some good love, right? Pizzo raps about various trysts and love-scapades over a soul inspired beat.Ace lines: met this fine PH resident, got oil money her brother’s a militant/ I’m impressed she’s a rebel for the cause, struggle for the poor/ one day she said she was wondering/ if I would love to kidnap and go bunkering

7. For Youfeat RubyLoopy music’s Ruby laces this track with soulful vocals as Pizzo breaks down his passion of doing music for the listenersAce lines: music helps me appreciate the beauty in life/ the proof is in the way I’ve been consuming the mic

8. For John My Friend Producer Tommy Shields creates an emotional beat sampling Janelle Monae’s “Oh Maker” over which Pizzo tells the true story of a friend whose tale may not have been told otherwiseAce lines: After fighting wars from Chad to Lebannon/ in the Middle East keeping peace that never comes

10. In da City
In the city of love you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for, just be careful not to get lost while doing so. Pizzo raps about finding love and the determination to preserve it.Ace lines: I’m no stranger, I’ve been to the place called love/ where the sidewalk is smooth and the main road is rough

11. I love UJfeat Illmasta ChifAn anthem of the (sometimes juvenile) pleasures of being young and in college, rapped appropriately to Asher Roth’s “I Love College”. A party-ode to one of the oldest Universities in Nigeria, the University of Jos – the alma mata of Pizzo and Illmasta Chif.Ace lines: I made a lot of cash from extorting my parents, school fees was 27 I told them 46/ spent all the profit on Rosay and Bacardi mix/ fellowship with holy dames, wild out with naughty chicks

12. Rayuwa feat Chrome and Illmasta ChifRayuwa! “Living.” Pizzo, Chrome and Illmasta Chif give three perspectives on violence that has seen a peaceful city torn apart, and hatred wrought on a people’s ability to live as one.Ace lines: If religion has a way of blurring your rational thoughts refrain from it/ tell you what I’ve seen so many mentally deranged from it

13. Lonely Roadfeat Chrome and Illmasta ChifTommy Shields evokes the Greenday classic for this track of personal trials, tribulations and redemption.Ace lines: I keep my eyes on the road/ and I aim for the prizes like diamonds and gold, ready to blow/ like crude oil I steady the flow

If you are in Jos city you cannot afford to miss this one!! (And if you aren’t get yourself over there!) Hurry over to any razor sharp outlet and buy goods worth 5K and you get a free regular ticket. Buy goods worth 10K and get a free VIP ticket.

This young rapper, singer, song writer and actor is a product of the prestigious Open Air Theatre, University of Jos, Plateau state. Coming from a city famed for the production of such talent as MI, Asa, Desmond Elliot, the Amatas and Helon Habila, among many, we are most definitely excited to see what ‘J-town’ has got in store for us with Pizzo da Lyrical Praxis.

Over time Pizzo has been critically acclaimed as one of the best to ever put pen and paper together as a young writer in Jos. With a fast growing fan base, Pizzo’s first studio effort is set to be released on the 14th of February 2013.

The Mixtape is a collaborative effort with various Nigerian artists whom are passionate about the arts.

Pizzo over the years has recorded with Nigerian Hip-Hop heavy weights such as Terry tha Rapman, Pherowshuz, Hench, Grandsun of the Faculty, and his long time friend and collaborator Tommy Shieldz.

As any in which the artistic drive is passionate and true, Pizzo expresses himself through various art forms. Apart from playing a lead role in a short film shot by Umar Turaki of the Weaned Child film company, The Praxis is set to take the lead role in the upcoming TV series J Town Hustle, directed by Nollywood’s David Uro and slated to play key roles in upcoming theatre productions – this dude is the complete package!

A traveler, lover of experience and cultures. His hobbies are cooking, writing poems, site-seeing and listening to good music. Hit up Pizzo on twitter @Pizzo_Da_Lp and get chatting with this lyrical maestro.

The article by Kingsley Madueke on Radio Netherlands Worldwide Africa (RNW) covers the Critique Entertainment crew and their music movement, the heart of which beats (pun intended) at the Basement studios in Kufang, Jos. The article features respected rapper/spoken word artist Pizzo da lyrical Praxis and ace producer Tommy Shields of illtouch records.